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Scottish Athletics Statistician, Arnold Black, wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – IAIN MURDOCH

Iain Murdoch was Scottish 1500m champion three times but never won a title at the event he topped the Scottish rankings in for 3 consecutive years between 1999-2001 – the 3000m steeplechase, winning silver in 2005 and 2007. In 2003, he was ranked number one in the 1500m. Career bests of 1:53.2 (800), 3:44.90 (1500), 4:03.19 (1M), 8:20.06 (3000), 14:50.4 (5000), 5:46.85 (2000S) and 8:42.79 (3000S). He appeared in the Scottish senior rankings between 1996 and 2012.”

Iain MURDOCH (born 10.07.80) AvClub: Avonside Track Club.onside, Law & District, Birchfield, Hylas (Netherlands)

Iain was born in Rotherham in 1980 and coming into athletics in 1994 was being spoken of as a major talent by 1998 and was the subject of a Q&A in the Scottish Athletics Yearbook of 1999.   If we look at the questionnaire and his replies before we go on to his achievements, it would provide a useful background.   

Club: Avonside Track Club.      Started in athgletics:   Around 1994 because I was really bad at football.

Favourite event:  3000m steeplechase.   

Progression:  1994 – 2:11.5 (800), 4:34.5 (1500);     1995: – 4:10.5 (1500), 9:35.1 (3K), 4:42.94 (1500 steeplechase)

1996 – 1:57.6 (800), £:59.9 (1500), 9o:06.4 (3K), 4:22.81 (1500 SC), 10:40.3 (3K SC)

1997 – 1:58.4 (800), 3:59.0 (1500), 8:46.61 (3K), 6:07.34 (2K SC), 9:27.56 3K Sc)

1998 – 1:56.1 (800), 3:55.5 (1500), 8:31.22 (3K), 5:46.85 (2K SC), 8:58.15 (3K SC)

Achievements Scottish Junior S/C Champ: 1997, 1`998; Scottish Age 16 and Age 17 record holder, ranked 1st UK u20 2k and 3K S/C in 1998, AAA’s 300m indoor champ, in GB Team at World Junior Champs, 1998.

Greatest Satisfaction: Competing at World Junior Champs in Annwcy.

Hero: None.   Greatest Performance seen: Hitcham el-Guerrouj breaking the world 1500m record.

Ultimate Aim?  To beat a Kenyan at the steeplechase.   Greatest Rival:  The Kenyans,

Coach:  Roy Overend.   How many days a week do you train?   4 – 5 days a week.   

How often do you compete in a season?   10 – 12 races.   

Typical week’s Training?   Monday – Speed Endurance; Tuesday: Run; Wednesday Track Reps; Thursday: Run; Friday: Track Reps; Saturday: Run;  Sunday: Hill work and weights.

Suggestions for improvement in your event: More quality races,

Suggestions for improvement in athletics as a sport? Make the sport more athlete-friendly/oriented.

Any family interest?   My sister used to do the Long and Triple Jumps.

*

That was the questionnaire answered, now we should look at his achievements in more detail.

1998 – Championship Record: 

Scottish: 1st 1500m 2003, 2nd 1500 2000

2nd 3000m Steeplechase 2005 and 2007

1^st Indoor 1500m 2000 and 2001 

3^rd Indoor 3000m 2005.

In 2000 Iain Murdoch finished 5^th in an under-23 International steeplechase at Glasgow.

 SENIOR INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES

1999 Loughborough 3000S 3rd 9:06.00 v England and two other teams

2000 Loughborough 3000S 1st 8:47.64 v England and three other teams

2001 Loughborough 3000S 2^nd 8.49.91 (He ran for Loughborough v England, Scotland, Wales and two other teams)

2002 Loughborough 3000S 5th 9:13.22 v England, Wales and two other teams

2003 1500m 6th 3:52.94 v Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia – at Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Scottish under 17 Championships: Iain Murdoch (Avonside) won the Indoor and Outdoor 1500m titles in 1996.

Scottish under 20 Championships:

Iain Murdoch (Avonside) won the 2000 metres Steeplechase title in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

He won the Indoor 1500m in 1998 and 1999.

West District Championship: Iain Murdoch (Law and District AC) won the 1500m in 2003

Other significant races:

On 30/7/1998, at Annecy (France) Iain ran in the IAAF World under 20 / Junior Championships. He finished 7^th in his heat (9.07.09) 3000m Steeplechase

On 15/8/1998, he finished third (8.31.32) in the AAA Junior Championships 3000m.

In May 1999, he was third in the British Universities Steeplechase. On 6/8/1999, at Riga (Latvia) he was 7^th (9.03.01) in his heat at the European Junior Championships 3000m Steeplechase.

Iain Murdoch won: the AAA under 23 Steeplechase title in 2000; in 2001 was first in a 1500m at Heusden, Belgium; In 2002 first in a 1500m at Namur, Belgium; In 2003 he won 1500m and Steeplechase in Scottish League Division One, set his PB mile time in Dublin and won a 1500m in Meilen, Switzerland.

From 2008-2013, he competed mainly in The Netherlands, winning at 1500m, One Mile, 3000m, 5000m and Steeplechase. He was second in the 2008 Dutch National Championship Steeplechase. Iain finally experimented with distances up to Half Marathon.

Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – JENNIFER WARD

Jenny Ward is pictured here in the 2004 Scottish indoors, her last competitive season in athletics, having first entered the Scottish senior rankings in 1992. Having won Scottish titles in all the age-groups from U13 to U20, she went on to become Scottish 800m champion on 3 occasions – 2000, 2003 and indoors in 2004. She topped the 800m rankings in 1999 and set career bests of 56.7 (400m), 2:04.07 (800m) and 4:17.09 (1500m).”

Jennifer WARD (born 22.09.78) Pitreavie, City of Glasgow

Championship record:

GB: AAA Championships 800m 3^rd 2003.

Scottish Senior medals:

1st 800m in 2000 and 2003

2nd 800m 1997 and 1999,

3^rd 800m 2002

1^st Indoor 800 2004

2^nd Indoor 800 1999

Senior International:

2001 Loughborough 800m 4th 2:05.96 v England, Wales and 3 other teams

In the Scottish Road Relay (Young Athletes age-group), Pitreavie AAC (including Jenny Ward) finished second in 1990 and won the title in 1991.

Jenny won Scottish age-group 800m championships at: under 13 1991; under 15 1993; under 17 1995; under 20 1996 and 1997.  Indoor under 17 1500m 1994 and 1995.

In the Scottish Schools Championships, she won: 800 m Group C 1993; 800m Group B 1994 and 1995. Indoor 800m: under 16 1993; over 16 1996.

She was East District 800m Champion in 2001.

Jennifer Ward’s power of 10 list includes the following other significant races:

British Miler’s Club Grand Prix (800m 3^rd in 1999, first in 2000; first in 1500m in 2003, with her PB); UK Women’s League Division 1 (800m first in 2000); UK Women’s League Division 2 (800m won in 2002); AAA Championships (800m 6^th in 2002); 800m in Kortrijk, Belgium, first in 2003; Scottish Women’s League 800 first in 2003; Meilen, Switzerland second in 2003; Merksem, Belgium, second in 2003; Dublin, Ireland, 4^th (PB) in 2003; AAA Indoor 800m 4^th in 2004; Genoa, Italy, Indoor 800m won in 2004.

Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – ROBERT RUSSELL

Winner of the Scottish 10,000m title in 2006, Robert Russell had previously won two national cross-country titles. On the road, he added two national half marathon titles. In total, he has amassed 14 championship medals across the three disciplines. On the track, he appeared in the Scottish rankings for the 15-year period from 2000 to 2014, setting bests of 1:54.55 (800m), 3:52.51 (1500), 8:21.56 (3000), 14:13.00 (5000), and 30:46.59 (10,000) with road bests of 29:16 (10k), 65:22 (HM) and 2:27:28 (Marathon).”

Robert RUSSELL (born 13.07.82) Central AC, Thames Valley Harriers

Championship Record: 

Scottish: 1st 10,000m 2006 

2nd 5000m 2000, 2004, 2005

2^nd Indoor 3000m 2011.

2001 gold in under 20 5000m

Scottish 10km Road Championships: silver in 2007; and also 2012 (when Central AC won team gold).

Scottish 5km Road Championships: team gold in 2012 (when Robert was 6^th).

Scottish Half Marathon Championships: Individual gold in 2007; individual and team gold in 2008.

Scottish National XC: under 20 bronze in 2001; Senior individual gold in 2005 at Irvine; Senior team silver in 2008 (when Robert was 5^th); team silver in 2009; team gold in 2014 (8^th).

It seems harsh that Robert, a 22-year-old first year Senior, was not selected for the Scottish team in the 2005 World Cross-Country Championships.   He won the National title five weeks before the World event.

 Scottish Short Course XC: 2005 individual gold and team bronze; 2007 individual bronze and team gold; 2008 individual bronze and team silver; 2009 team silver; 2014 individual silver and team gold.

Scottish XC Relay: Central (with Robert Russell) won silver in 2005, gold 2006, silver 2007, gold 2008 and 2009, silver 2010, bronze 2011, gold 2014.

Scottish Road Relay Championships: Central (with Robert Russell) won silver in 2005, gold 2008, silver 2011, gold 2012, gold 2014.

In 2008, Robert Russell ran for Scotland as a Senior at Liverpool in the McCain UK Cross Challenge, finishing 19^th.

In 2010, he finished 8^th in the BUPA Great Edinburgh International 4km XC, beating young Callum Hawkins.

Junior XC Internationals: 2001-4,

2001 at Cardiff Under 20, 1^st individual and Scotland won team contest v Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

2002 at Edinburgh. Under 23, 13^th but second Scot v France, GB, Portugal, Northern Ireland

2002 at Dublin. Under 23, 10^th but third Scot v Wales, Ireland, NI.

2003 at Belfast. Under 23, 5^th but third Scot v Ireland, Wales and NI.

2004 at Ayr. Under 23, 4^th and first Scot v Ireland, Wales and NI.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

On 3^rd April 2005 Robert Russell won the Scotland Day 10k road race in New York City (rather than World Cross?)

Robert won the East District 5000 in 2000; East XC in 2008; and also the Scottish East District XC Relays.

For Thames Valley Harriers, Robert Russell raced in the British Athletics League Division 1 and for Central in Scottish Athletics League Division 1. He won races in both Leagues. Robert was a great team man: he might race any distance between 800m and 10,000m – and might even volunteer for the 4x400m relay if the club needed him!

In the 2012 English National XC he finished a good 50^th.

He contested the English National and the Southern 6 and 12 Stage Relays for TVH.

His only marathon was Berlin in 2008, when he finished 40th.

 In 2013 Robert Russell contested the European Clubs XC Championships in Spain, finishing 41^st, which made him first man home for Central AC, the Scottish Champions.

He won several 10k Road Races, for example at Stirling, Grangemouth, Balmoral, Walton-on-Thames, Alloa and Aberdeen; and Half Marathons in Jedburgh, Dunfermline, Helensburgh and Balfron.

There are many pages on various aspects of the marathon on the site now and they will still be available from the page they’re on but it is maybe a good idea to have a single marathon index for those who only want to access these pages.   There are references to marathon runners and races on some other pages – it would be a strange website about endurance running that did not have them – but this is the one-stop shop for the event.

A Hardy Race : The record of results in all Scottish Marathon Championships, compiled by Fraser Clyne and Colin Youngson and reprinted here.

Marathon Stars : This is the page about the very top marathon runners with fairly lengthy profiles about the men who made the event in Scotland what it is.

Career Lists for Scottish Marathoners: The lists for all the marathons and ultra marathons run by Scots such as Allister Hutton, John Graham, Alastair Wood, Don Ritchie, etc

Scottish Marathon Club: This is about the club that was founded in 1944 with the objective “to foster marathon running in Scotland”

The Birth of the Scottish Marathon Club:  is what it says.

The Marathons : The various marathons run in Scotland – the story of the race and the results – during the ‘running boom as well as before and after that period.

The Road Runner’s Year: A look at the organisation of the year for the road running specialist.   In four parts it looks at the traditions and training, and attempts a look forward.

Scottish Marathon Miscellany : This is a collection of interesting, sometimes strange, facts about the marathon in Scotland.

The Vancouver Marathon: This is about the Empire Games Marathon in Vancouver which was won by Joe McGhee in unusual circumstances.

Jim in Jamaica: The story of Jim Alder’s victory in the Commonwealth Games Marathon in Jamaica

Mike in Mexico : The story of Mike Ryan’s third place in the Mexico Olympic Marathon

1980 GB Ranking List : GB Marathon Rankings from 1980 when the Running Boom was encouraging more runners to produce faster times.   Every marathon from the fastest down to the 4 hours mark.

Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – Morag MacLarty

Winner of three Scottish 1500 metres titles, one 5000m, two 5k road titles and the national cross-country, Morag Millar is pictured at the start of her career in 2002. In 2005, she won the European Junior Championship 1500 metres and the following year competed at the Commonwealth Games. Career bests of 2:05.17 (800), 4:10.86 (1500), 9:38.69 (3000) and 16:09.66 (5000) as well as a one-off 7:01.97 2000m steeplechase. On the road, 33:44 10k and 76:55 HM. Hard to believe but enters the veteran stage this year!”

Before we go on to look a bit more closely at her career, we could maybe look at a profile that was done for the Scottish Athletics Yearbook for 2002 to see how it all started and what her goals and ambitions were then.

School:   Central AC/ Perth High School

Started in athletics: I started in athletics to improve my pace and stamina for football near the end of the track season 2000.

Favourite events: 800/1500.   Best Performances: 800: 2:07.25; 1500 4:33.63.

Progression: 800 – 2:24.82 (2000);   2:07.25 (2001).   1500 – 4:52.5 (2000); 4:33.63 ((2001).

Achievements: Winning both the 800m and 1500m at U17 at Scottish Schools Championships; Scottish National Championships & British Schools international.   Winning 800m at AAA’s.   Also winning National Cross-Country Champs at U15.

 Greatest Personal Satisfaction: Winning 800m at British Schools International in a Scottish record of 2:07.25 and then winning the 1500m a hour later clocking another PB.

Greatest Performance Seen: Jonathan Edwards when he came from behind to win the World Championships in Edmonton.

Ultimate Personal Aim: To achieve my full potential.

Greatest Rival:  Anyone with a better PB than me.     Coach:  Derek Easton

How often do you train: 4 – 6 days a week.   How often do you compete in a season: Twice a month.

Typical week’s training:   Summer – 2 interval sessions on the track – the rest are easy runs.   Winter – hills, fartlek, interval session – the rest are easy runs.

Suggestions for improvement in your event – More big races in Scotland

Suggestions for improvement in athletics: Bigger and faster detection of drug cheats.   Family involvement: My 2 brothers and sister also take part in athletics.   

That was what Morag thought about the sport as a 15 year old – in 2004 she travelled with the Scottish team to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia.    The picture below shows the members of the team after the Games with their medals.   Morag is third from the left in the back row with her 1500m gold medal.

There was a very good article on Morag written by Natasha Wood, Senior Sports Writer for the Sunday Herald and reprinted in the SATS yearbook for 2006.   You can read this excellent item at this link.  

Now for a look at her career in detail.   *

Morag MacLarty (born 10.02.86) Central AC

In the Scottish lists 2000-2017; then Morag Millar to 2019

Senior Championship Record: Commonwealth Games 2006 1500m (ht).

Scottish Senior: 1^st 1500 2008, 2009, 2010, 2nd 1500 2005, 3rd 1500 2013. 1st 5000 2015

Scottish age-groups:

Morag MacLarty was a brilliant and consistent young athlete who, after injuries, went on to become a successful team leader as a mature athlete.

Under 17 1500 gold in 2001 and 2002; 800m gold in 2001.

Under 20 800m/1500m double gold in 2003, 2004 and 2005

Scottish Schools Group B 800m/1500m double gold in 2001 and 2002

Group A 800m/1500m double gold in 2003

Track Internationals – Senior

2005 Loughborough 1500 4^th 4.20.97 215

2006 Commonwealth Games 1500 heat 4.20.79 218

2010 Loughborough 1500 1^st 4.16.30 v England, Wales and two other teams

Road International – Senior

16/2/2017 Armagh Northern Ireland 3km 16^th but first Scot v England, Ireland and Northern Ireland

Cross-Country Internationals – Senior

26/11/2016 Liverpool Cross Challenge v England, Wales, Northern Ireland, 21^st /3^rd Scot.

14/1/2017 Antrim International Cross Challenge (runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, England, Ireland, Romania, Northern Ireland and USA). 10^th but first Scot.

Junior XC Internationals (Celtic Nations) 

2002 Under 20 5^th Scotland beat Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland in Dublin

2003 Belfast Under 20 1^st v Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland

2004 at Ayr under 23 6^th but first Scot

2008 under 23 v Ireland and Wales. 6^th (second Scot). At Edinburgh

14/12/2008 (for Great Britain) European under 23 XC Championships. 4^th. At Brussels.

 Scottish National Cross-Country Championships

2001 under 15 gold; plus team gold with Central

2002 and 2003 under 17 gold

2004 under 20 bronze; 2005 gold; plus team gold.

2014 Senior team gold (Morag 6^th); 2015 team gold (individual bronze); 2017 individual and team gold.

Scottish XC Relay: Central AC (with Morag MacLarty) – bronze 2005; silver 2006; gold 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015; silver 2017 and 2018.

Scottish Short Course XC: gold in 2007 (plus team gold); gold in 2012; silver in 2014 (team bronze); 2015 team gold; 2017 individual bronze (team gold).

Scottish 5km Road Championships: gold in 2014 (and team gold); silver in 2016 (plus team silver); 2019 (as Morag Miller) individual gold and team silver.

Inter-District XC Championships: individual gold in 2015 and 2017; silver in 2019.

In ‘The National’ newspaper on 25^th November 2016, Susan Egelstaff wrote the following:

“SPORT, as does life, all too often fails to follow the script. This is what makes it so intriguing to watch but unfortunately for Morag MacLarty, she has been forced to face the brutal reality of sport deviating from what has been predicted.

As a junior runner, MacLarty was one of the most promising athletes in the country. She won European Junior 1500m gold in 2005 and ran the fastest 1500m of any junior in Europe. She won Commonwealth Youth Games gold and was Scottish junior champion many times over.

To say that things looked bright for the runner from Auchterarder would be the greatest of understatements.

Possessing natural pace as well as endurance, much was predicted for MacLarty and when she was selected for her first Commonwealth Games – in Melbourne in 2006 – aged just 20, it seemed the world was her oyster.

However, MacLarty has many qualities but she was has not blessed with an abundance of luck. Injury began to plague her and she admits that she struggled to cope with failing to live up to the potential that so many observers had talked of.”

“Getting injured so much makes you feel like you’re not talented,” she says. “It was hard – everyone was talking about my potential but I was never able to put together enough races together to realise that potential.

“I feel like a completely different person now compared to all those years ago – it doesn’t feel like it was me that people were talking about.”

In 2010, MacLarty was running so well that the 2010 Commonwealth Games were a realistic target.

However, after picking up a stress fracture during the qualifying period, she admits she became so demoralised that she seriously considered quitting the sport. But she stuck at it and now, things are beginning to look up.

Earlier this month, she finished third in the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships and the 30 year-old has been selected as part of the Scotland team to travel to Liverpool for tomorrow’s British trials for the European Cross Country Championships.

While MacLarty, who runs for Central AC, remains reluctant to make any grand predictions, she admits that it is encouraging to begin to see improvements in her form.

“I’ve been around for a long time but over the past year, I felt like I’d been putting a lot in but when you don’t get anything out, it’s tough,” she says. “But I do feel that things are changing for me.

“I’m getting fitter and stronger all the time so that’s good. I’m really happy with everything, I’m in the best place I’ve been in for ages.”

The biggest factor in MacLarty’s resurgence has been the identification of a leg-length difference, from which all of her injuries were stemming.

MacLarty describes her injuries as being so bad that at one point, she could not even walk down the street pain-free.

However, the discovery of “a gem of a physio” has now allowed her to train for a sustained period so the physical effects of her injuries are healing but the mental scars can be harder to heal. However, the full-time dentist is aware her lower training load could turn out to be of benefit.

“Now that I’m older, I’m finding it much harder to do well and I’m not sure why that is because surely if you’re talented when you’re young, you’re talented later too,” she says. “But there’s a book called ‘Bounce’ by Matthew Syed and it talks about when you see someone doing something great in competition, you think: ‘They’re so talented’, and there is talent but actually, there’s all that hard work behind the scenes too.

“That book helped me because it made me think that I’ve not had the chance to do all of the hard work and even though I’m getting older, my legs are still only aged 25 instead of 30.”

With the 2018 Commonwealth Games now only 16 months away, MacLarty admits that making Team Scotland, 12 years after her Commonwealth Games debut, is certainly something that she has considered.

“The Games have definitely come into my thoughts,” she says.

“I’ll look at the 5000m but Scotland are so strong at that event so I might also look at the steeplechase.

“I don’t feel like anybody within Scottish athletics thinks that I’m going to do anything ever again and I can’t blame them for that because if you looked at the past few years, you’d probably agree with them. But I’m just going to keep on doing what I’m doing and see what happens.”

 Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote:

 “ATHLETE OF THE DAY – IAN GILLESPIE

Ian Gillespie featured in the Scottish rankings in every year between 1988 and 2002 with his best years probably around 1996-1998. In 1998, he represented GB in the European indoor 3000 and Scotland in the Commonwealth 5000. He was Scottish indoor champion over 1500m in 1993 and 1994 and twice a medallist at UK level. He topped the Scottish 3000 and 5000 rankings in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and led the 1500 in 1997. He has an impressive range of career bests: 1:50.1 (800), 3:39.8 (1500), 3:56.64 (1M), 7:48.28 (3000) and 13:18.06 (5000).

Pictured here in Birchfield colours leading the 2002 Scottish 5000m from eventual winner Glen Stewart (146). Others in the photo are Robert Napier (Ayr), Iain Connell (JWK), Ryan Montgomery (JWK) on the outside. Ian Gillespie placed 2nd with Bobby Quinn 3rd and Graeme Reid 4^th.”

Ian GILLESPIE (18.05.70) Westbury, Birchfield, Clydebank AC

In the Scottish lists between 1988 and 2014: 800m to 5000m only.

Championship Record:

European Indoor 1998 3000m (heat);

Commonwealth Games 1998 5000 (heat).

GB: 3^rd in the UK  5000 1997; 2^nd in the Indoor 3000m 1996.

Scottish: 2^nd in the 5000 2002, 3^rd in the 1500m 19 91; 1^st in the Indoor 1500m 1993 and 1994.

Scottish Track Internationals as a Senior

1991 Northern Ireland 1500m 1st 3.52.01

1991 Wales One Mile 6^th 4.16.36

1993 Wales/Northern Ireland 1500m 6^th 3.51.201

1998 Commonwealth Games 5000m 8th heat 14.50.34

In 1988, in the Scottish National under-17 Cross-Country Championships, Clydebank AC won the team award. Ian Gillespie secured individual bronze, with Glen Stewart 7^th, Alastair Russell 9^th and Martin McBride 11^th.

In 1990, Clydebank AC won the team title in the Scottish National under-20 Cross-Country Championships.

The team was: Malcolm Campbell 1^st, Glen Stewart 2^nd, Ian Gillespie 7^th and James Timmons 9^th.

Ian Gillespie ran for Scotland in a JUNIOR XC INTERNATIONAL Match: Celtic Nations, January 1991 at Irvine. First Scot in 10^th place.

                                                Collette Fagan winning the 2006 East Kilbride Half Marathon in a personal best time

Scottish statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – COLLETTE FAGAN
Collette Fagan won bronze at the European Junior 5000 in 2001 and was 5th two years later at the European U23s. In 2000, she was part of the winning GB junior team at the European Cross-Country, placing 9th in the individual event. She was Scottish 5000 metres champion in 2004 and 2005 and represented Scotland at 10,000m in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Collette won the 10km title on the road in 2003 and was cross-country champion at both long course and short course in the 2004/05 season. 2006 was her last track season (age 24) but she returned in 2009 and 2010 at the marathon. Career bests of 4:29.2 (1500), 9:15.18 (3000), 15:49.51 (5000), 33:00.31 (10000) and 2:45:11 marathon.”

Collette FAGAN (6.06.82) City of Glasgow, Victoria Park City of Glasgow, Abertay University

Between 1996 and 2010 she featured in the Scottish lists, although she also raced well in Europe during 2012. In GB Championships, she won a bronze medal in the 2004 5000m.

Collette Fagan was a brilliant young athlete.  She won Scottish Championship Under 17 1500m Indoor gold in 1997; Under 17 1500m Outdoor gold 1998; and Under 20 3000m gold in 1999.

She won Scottish Schools Group C 1500m gold in 1996. Group A 1500m gold in 1999. 3000m Group B gold in 1997 and 1998; Group A 3000m gold in 1999.

Another GB Junior International track appearance:

In May 2001 Collette Fagan raced for GB Juniors v England, Scotland, Wales and two other teams. She was fourth in 3000m in 9.24.21.

As a Junior, she raced in Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Scotland and England. As a Senior, she added Slovenia, Poland, Wales, Australia and The Netherlands.

In February 2000, she won the Inter-County Junior Cross-Country Championships in Nottingham.

Four Scottish International track appearances as a Senior:

2003: Ljubljana, Slovenia. Scotland v Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. In the 3000m, Collette was 3^rd ex 6 9:39.51.

2003: Loughborough. Scotland v five other teams. In the 3000m Collette finished 2^nd in 9:33.62.

2004: Loughborough. In the 3000m won in 9:15.18 v Wales, Ireland and three other teams.

(Her time in the 2004 International was second in that year’s Scottish Rankings, behind Kathy Butler. Collette Fagan was also second behind Kathy in the 5000m rankings for 2003, 2004 and 2005; and behind Freya Murray in 2006. Collette topped the 10,000m rankings in 2003 and was second to Kathy in 2004. She was also second to Hayley Haining in the 2009 Marathon list; and second to Susan Partridge in 2010.)

In May 2003, she won the Inter-Counties 5000m in Bedford.  

In the 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000m, hampered by injury, she finished 10^th in 34:35.16. Sadly, injury problems persisted for two years thereafter.

Between 1998-2002, Collette Fagan secured four Junior International XC vests, including the Reebok Cross Challenge: in November 1999, when she finished first Scot in second place behind an English runner; and in December 2002, when Susan Partridge, Freya Murray and Collette Fagan combined to ensure that the Scotland Under-23 team beat France and GB.

In 2003, she won two Senior International XC vests, including in Liverpool, November 2003, when Kathy Butler, Susan Partridge, Collette Fagan and Freya Murray helped Scotland to defeat England.

Cross Country National Championships: silver in under 15 1997, City of Glasgow team gold; under 17, team silver 1998; Under 20 individual and team golds in 2002; Senior bronze and team silver in 2003; 2005 individual gold and team gold; 2006 individual silver and team gold.

Scottish Short Course Cross-Country Championships: under 20 individual gold in 2002, plus Senior silver and team gold; team gold in 2003; 2005 individual and team golds.

Scottish Cross-Country Relays: Young Athletes team gold in 1998 and 1999; Senior team gold in 2000 and 2002.

Scottish 10k Road Championships: individual gold and team gold 2003.

Collette Fagan finished tenth in the 2005 Great North Run half marathon (1.13.44).

Her half marathon best was 1.13.30 in East Kilbride 2006. Her fastest marathon (2.45.10.1) was run in Amsterdam 2009.

It is quite common for those who ran marathon in the 1970’s and 80’s to say how different the scene was then and to talk about both numbers and standards.   It is, I suppose, possible to say that marathons now do draw the same big numbers although four or five with fields of 2,000 or 3,000 really can’t compare with 10 or more drawing fields varying from a couple of thousand up to over ten thousand.    There is however no way that the standard is as high as it was then.   As an indicator of the standard across Great Britain at the time, Joe Small (a comfortably sub 2:30 runner) has sent the GB ranking list for 1980 and we thought it was worth printing.   1980 was when the ‘running boom’ really started to produce more marathoners who ran fast times. (The ‘boom’ probably peaked in 1984 or 1985, and was waning by 1988.)   

….

Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – STEVEN CAIRNS
Northern Irish policeman Steven Cairns has been around the Scottish scene for 20 years with significant success. He was Scottish steeplechase champion twice, a medallist on 3 other occasions and won the 10,000 title in 2004. He twice won the Scottish short-course cross country title and was a silver medallist over 10k on the road. Career bests of 3:52.9 (1500), 8:36.7 (3000), 14:30.81 (5000), 31:25.85 (10,000), 2:29:29 (Mar) and 8:51.06 steeplechase.” Steve ran 30.04 for 10k road in the 2001 Inter-Counties Championships at Cheltenham.

Steven M. Cairns, often referred to as Steve or Stevie, was born on the third of November 1967. He first appears in Scottish Athletics records in 1995 and was still going strong in 2020. His first Scottish athletic club was Scottish Borders Athletic Club, based at Tweedbank and he then joined Carlisle-based Border Harriers for track competitions and Mizuno Racing Club for road and country. However, by 2001, this charismatic Northern Irishman – a superb team contributor –   was racing for the most sociable club in Scotland – Hunters Bog Trotters.

Northern Ireland Championships: Steven Cairns won Northern Irish Steeplechase gold in 1995 and 2002. In 2001 he raced for Northern Ireland v Scotland, Wales and two other teams. In the Steeplechase he finished second to his HBT team-mate Donald Naylor of Wales.

At Coleraine, running for Annadale Striders, he became the 2005 Northern Irish Cross-Country Champion. Consequently, he must have run International XC several times for NI as a Senior.

In the British and Irish International Masters XC Championships, Steven Cairns often ran for NI Masters. Probably his best performance in this event was in 2007, when he finished third M40 behind the winner Robert Quinn of Scotland.

 Scottish Championship record: Stevie Cairns won the 3000m Steeplechase title in 2001 and 2006, as well as gaining silver in 1997 and 1998 and bronze in 1995. In 2004, he won the Scottish 10,000m Championship.

For Leslie Deans RC, Steve contributed to: 1996 National XC Relay gold; and 1996 National 6-Stage Road Relay silver in 1996 plus 1997 gold with the renamed Mizuno ; and 1997 National XC bronze with Mizuno.

In the Scottish 10k Road Championship, he secured silver in 2002; and Masters silver in 2011.

Scottish 10 miles Road – Masters silver in 2012.

Scottish 6-Stage Road Relay: HBT won silver medals in 2004. Steve still holds the Short Stage course record at Livingston.

The late, lamented Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay seemed ideal for Steven Cairns. His first outing was for Carnegie Harriers; and then, years later, he ran the final two editions. In 2001, HBT won silver medals, with Stevie maintaining the lead and recording the fastest time on prestigious Stage 2. In 2002 HBT finished 5^th, but Stevie won the first stage by a clear minute.

In the Scottish National XC Championships: HBT won team gold medals in 2001, with Stevie Cairns running very well in 5^th place. In 2002, it was team bronze, with consistent Cairns 5^th again. The Trotters won the team race in 2005 (SC 4^th) and 2007 (SC 6^th). Finally, in 2009, the team secured bronze (SC 22^nd).

In the Scottish Cross-Country Relays, Steven Cairns featured in the HBT team which won gold medals in 2005 (the runners were SC, Alistair Hart, Donald Naylor and Phil Mowbray).  HBT added a bronze medal in 2007.

Stevie became Scottish Short Course XC Champion in 2001 and 2003.

In the Scottish Masters XC Championships, Steven Cairns, so far, has won two age-group titles and several other medals. In 2007 he won overall as first M35; in 2009 he added M40 bronze, followed by silver in 2010 and 2011. In 2013 it was M45 silver – not far behind Robert Quinn – but in 2020 the indomitable Stevie Cairns won M50 gold.

QUESTIONNAIRE

NAME: 

 Steve Cairns       

CLUBs

 HBT and Tyne Bridge Harriers (Newcastle) 

DATE OF BIRTH:

 03/11/1967

OCCUPATION

 Semi-retired and Part-time Plumbing and Gas Engineer

 HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?

 When I was a teenager, I wanted to emulate my big brother so that’s why I started by joining my local running club – I continued with it at a very low level into my army career but gave it up when I asked a local running club coach how I could get faster and he told me to go away and lose two stone and then come back. On reflection, it was an honest comment but probably could have been put across more diplomatically: so I left the sport for a few years and came back to it when I was 24 and I have been competing ever since.

 HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HAD A MARKED INFLUENCE ON YOUR ATTITUDE OR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE?

 When I was in the Army, I was training with a guy called Nick Bateson who had a total love for running, and he had just watched me come 130th in the Army cross country championships. He told me if I actually trained I could probably win it. He was the first person to believe in me, so I trained with him and the following year I came 2nd so I guess he was right. 

 WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?

 It took a long time for me to love running – it always felt hard and I never learned to enjoy it. For me I loved winning and that became my driving force. I can accept defeat but only when I have done my best, so I always felt I was a good racer because I always gave it my all. It was only after I married Isobel Knox – Scottish Ultra Runner – that I realised my own love for the sport and what it gives me – since her complete love of running rubbed off on me. 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES?

 Three stand out for me: Winning my first National cross-country title as it exceeded what I ever thought I would achieve. Running 30:04 for a road 10K, as I felt I had paced it perfectly. I was always running on the edge, and I was not disappointed I did not break 30 minutes, as every time in the race I felt comfortable, I pushed harder so I felt I gave it my all.  To win a bronze in the European Police Steeplechase, as I went into the final as the slowest runner on paper but was sitting 4th at the bell and I fought hammer and nail to cross the line in 3rd to beat the Italian. I then went straight to the side of the track and was violently ill. 

YOUR WORST?

 I always felt I under- performed at the Scottish National Cross country, the highest I got was 4th and I always felt I might have done better. 

 WHAT UNFULFILLED AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE?

 I never got a GB vest, so that is a regret, but I am still ambitious. I still want to win every race I enter. I always felt that was one of my strengths: that I only ever worried about myself, and no matter who was in the field, if I ran my race I could win. I’ve never won the British and Irish Masters International – so that’s on the to-do list. 

 OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES?

 I have tried a few Ultras, some Triathlons and an Ironman but for me now it’s all about running. 

 WHAT DOES RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS?

 Without realising it, running has defined so much of my life both professionally and socially. It’s been the constant source of my biggest highs and lows. I would say that it now defines me. 

 CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING?

 I constantly average about 50-60 miles a week and include 2 speedwork sessions when my body allows. I do all my training now on my own or with Izzy; and we both do a lot of running on heart rate so that we keep our training honest. 

Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – SUSAN SCOTT
The first Scottish female athlete to better 2 minutes for 800 metres, she twice finished 4th at the Commonwealth Games. She featured in the Scottish rankings between 1992 and 2009 topping the 800 rankings on 8 occasions and 1500 on 5. 7 Scottish titles, 3 British titles and appearances at Olympic, World and European Championships. She held the Scottish 800 record from 2002 until bettered by Lynsey Sharp in 2014.”

The clubs that Susan Scott ran for were: Glasgow, City of Glasgow, Victoria Park City of Glasgow.

Her GB medals were: AAA 800m gold in 2002 and 2005 (plus silver in 2003 and bronze in 2004);1500m gold in 2009 (plus silver in 2008); silver in the 2008 UK 1500m; and bronze in the 1999 3000m. Scottish Championship medals were: 800m gold in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005; 1500m gold in 2004 (plus silver in 2000 and bronze in 1997); Indoor 1500m gold in 2006.

Apart from her two Commonwealth Games 800m appearances (in 2002 and 2006), Susan Scott ran on the track for Scotland on five other occasions, also racing 1500m, 4x400m and 4x1500m. She competed for Great Britain at least 10 times, including: 1500m at the 1999 European under-23 Championships; 800m at the 2005 World Championships; 1500m at the 2008 World Indoor Championships; 1500m at the 2008 Olympic Games; and 1500m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships.

Cross Country: As a Scottish Junior International, she earned 3 XC vests between 1996 and 1999 – including an under 23 victory in the 1999 Celtic Nations at Cumbernauld.

As a Senior XC International (1997-2000) Susan represented Scotland on 3 occasions.

Below are excerpts from a detailed profile of ‘Tommy Boyle, Master Coach’, which is on the website Anent Scottish Running.

“Fate intervened once more in 2000, when Tommy was asked to take on a young athlete – Susan Scott.

Susan Scott (born 26th September, 1977) was a considerably good runner who was originally trained by John Montgomery before she came under Tommy’s wing.   For the bare facts, her Wikipedia entry reads as follows: 

“Susan Scott (born 26 September 1977) is a Scottish track and field athlete who competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games in the 1500 metres. She also finished fourth in the 800 metres final at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2006.   Scott was born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. Representing Scotland, she finished fourth in the 800 metres final at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002, and Melbourne 2006.   In both finals, she broke the Scottish record. By running 1:59.30 in the 2002 final, she improved her best by over a second and broke the longest standing Scottish track record to become the first Scots woman to run under two minutes. The previous record of 2:00.15, by Rosemary Stirling, had stood for 30 years. Scott improved on this in the 2006 final with 1:59.02, which stood as the Scottish record until 2014, when Lynsey Sharp ran 1:58.80. As of 2015, Scott ranks 11th on the UK all-time list. Her 1500 metres best of 4:07.00, was set in June 2008. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was eliminated in the heats of the 1500 metres.”   

Tommy Boyle (who described Susan Scott as ‘a challenging athlete as deep as the ocean’) agreed to coach Susan on the clear understanding that it would be within the constraints of his time.   However, Tommy now had perfected a tried and tested methodology. Myra Nimmo agreed to help in her spare time again and no stone was left unturned in the pursuit of excellence. However, by this time we had an Institute of Sport and that solved a few issues for Tommy.    He says perhaps it is best to read his 2005 lecture on Susan but once again proved just how good a coach he was in taking a 2.08 athlete to such heady performances.

Tommy added: “I was very fortunate to have the support of my old pal, Frank McMahon, who was Susan’s Minder whilst she did weights in Local Authority Gyms.   Frank, pictured below with Susan, called a spade a shovel – just what she needed to bring her out of her very deep shell.   Frank was also great support when he came out to Melbourne with us for the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

A measure of the preparation Tommy did for Melbourne was contacting the head coach at Bendigo athletics Club, Peter Barratt.   Peter could hardly believe Tommy would trust him with his top athlete.   However, he arranged everything for Susan including the critical training partners and supported her in a very successful series of three races which she won before the Games.   She is pictured below with the Bendigo training team and some club members.

SUSAN SCOTT: CAREER PROGRESSION

Aged 11 1988 Scottish CC Champ (Gold) 1^st

Aged 13 1990 Scottish CC Champ (Gold) 1st – coached by Glen Harrow

Aged 14 1991 British Schools CC West District Champ

Phase 1 Aged 15 1992 Scottish 800m Champ U15 (Gold) 1^st – coached by Graham Greenham

Aged 19 1996 Scottish Champs (1500m) 3rd – coached by John Montgomery
Scottish Schools CC 2nd
Scottish CC Champs (Gold) 1st
British Schools Indoors (Gold) 1^st

Aged 20 1998 Scottish Champs 800m (Gold) 1^stAged 19 1996 Scottish Champs (1500m) 3rd – coached by John Montgomery
Scottish Schools CC 2nd
Scottish CC Champs (Gold) 1st
British Schools Indoors (Gold) 1st

Phase 2 Aged 22 1999 AAAs U23 (1500m) (Gold) 1^st – then coached by Tommy Boyle from 2000 onwards

Aged 24 2002 1:59.30 Commonwealth Games Scottish National Record 4th 1:59.30
AAAs (Gold) 1st 2:03.84
23 2001 Scottish (Gold) 1st 2:06
European U23 Champs (1500m) (heat)

Aged 25 2003
1/8/03 North Down Games (Silver) 2nd 2:03.9
26/7/03 AAAs (Silver) 2nd 2:04.13
29/6/03 GB v. USA v. Russia 6th 2:03.16
21/6/03 Euro. Cup 6th 2:04.28
12/6/03 Ostrava GP 5th 2:01.85
1/6/03 2:01.08 Hengelo GP 2nd 2:01.08
GB Int. 5th 2:03
Scottish (Gold) 1st 2:02

Phase III Aged 26 200415/8/04 Scottish Champs (Gold) 1st 2:02.85
14/8/04 Scottish Champs (Gold) 1st 4:17.0
30/7/04 2:00.71 Crystal Palace GP 4th 2:00.71
24/7/04 GB Match 6th 2:03.00
17/7/04 BMC 1st 2:01.70
14/7/04 Lahiti Games 1st 2:01.46
11/7/04 AAAs (Bronze) 3rd 2:02.13
27/6/04 Gateshead GP 6th 2:01.40
19/6/04 Euro. Cup (Bronze) 3rd 2:01.35
12/6/04 BMC 1st 2:00.77
2/6/04 Open Graded 2:01.87 mx
22/5/04 BMC 2nd 4:10.56

Aged 27 2005
21/8/05 Norwich Union Super GP 2nd 2:03.77
14/8/05 Scottish Champs (Gold) 1st 2:02.85
7/8/05 2:01.17 IAAF World Champs (Season Best) 8th 2:01.17
22/7/05 Norwich Union Super GP 3rd 2:02.06
10/7/05 AAA Champs & Trials (World & Comm)
(Gold) 1st 2:02.97
27/6/05 Josef Odlozil Memorial GPII (1500m) 2nd 4:14.84
12/6/05 Lille GP (1500m) 6th 4:09.10

Phase IV
Aged 28 2006 Comm. Games/European Champs

Aged 29 2007 World Champs

Aged 30 2008 Olympic Games

Aged 31 2009 World Champs

In a ‘Scotsman’ interview, Tommy Boyle mentioned as one of his proudest moments “Susan Scott breaking the Scottish record at two successive Commonwealth Games – first in 2002 in Manchester and then in 2006 in Melbourne.”   His pride is entirely justified in that, the first time she broke the national 800m record, it was one that had been in existence for all of 30 years and had withstood attacks by such big talents as Ann Purvis, Margaret Coomber, Christine and Evelyn McMeekin, Lynne McDougall and others.   The fact that she then retained the record until 2014 is another testament to the value of the time.”

In late 2006, Susan Scott wrote this about herself:

“I am a quiet unassuming person with a burning determination to succeed.  I have dedicated my life from the age of 9 years, to athletics, having been inspired by Liz McColgan at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.   My determination, dedication and passion for my sport have allowed me to compete at the highest level for both Scotland and Great Britain.

I currently live in Motherwell and train, on average, 10 times per week in order to sustain optimum fitness and performance.

I am a fully qualified cardiac technician currently working 3 full days in Glasgow’s busy Victoria Infirmary.  My role is both physically and mentally demanding.

I am a Scottish Institute of Sport Athlete and currently receive invaluable assistance with physio, nutrition, sports medicine and facilitation from the Performance and Excellence Manager.  This support infrastructure has been a vital factor in my progress to date.

In order to achieve my dream, it is clear that I need to change my lifestyle.  The personal sacrifice I made by taking 2 months leave to train full-time for the Commonwealth Games experience, Melbourne, resulted in 4^th position but a new Scottish Record.  Most importantly, this proved to me conclusively the direction I must take in the future and level of commitment required if I am to make that vital push for the summit of World Class Performance.”

This excellent, dedicated, determined Scottish runner went on to race: 1500m at the 2008 World Indoor Championships; 1500m at the 2008 Olympic Games; and 1500m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships. Perhaps, Susan Scott did not quite fulfil her dreams but she certainly achieved many successes and proved that she was a truly world-class athlete.